That day, Miyu was returning home late at night after finishing her extra study session at the library.
She was carrying a few books in her arms, and her pace was slightly hurried.
On the way, she noticed a group of men sitting outside a closed shop, drinking alcohol.
Miyu glanced at them only once and quickly walked past.
But one of the men fixed his eyes on her.
A filthy smile slowly appeared on his face.
“Hey…
wait.”
Miyu didn’t even look back.
Instead, she started walking faster.
Then she heard footsteps behind her.
They were following her.
Her heart began pounding rapidly.
She broke into a run.
Ahead of her, she noticed a narrow dark alley.
Without thinking, she rushed inside.
“If there’s another exit on the other side…
I can get away…”
But after running a short distance, she suddenly stopped.
Her breath caught in her throat.
There was only a wall ahead.
A dead end.
Slowly, the men entered the alley behind her.
Their footsteps sounded even more frightening in the silent surroundings.
One of them laughed.
“Looks like we’re lucky tonight.”
Another man stared at Miyu and said,
“School girls are a different kind of thrill…”
Miyu stepped backward.
Her hands were trembling.
“Stay away from me…”
She held her bag in front of her, trying to keep them back.
But one of the men snatched it away and threw it outside the alley.
Now Miyu was completely trapped.
One of the men slowly moved closer to her.
There was something disgusting in his eyes.
Miyu shivered in fear.
But in the very next moment—
Thud!
She kicked him with all her strength.
The man stumbled backward in pain.
However, another man immediately stepped forward and grabbed her tightly.
Miyu struggled desperately to break free.
Her breathing became ragged.
Tears streamed down her face.
At that moment…
The sound of footsteps echoed from outside the alley.
A young man was standing there, holding the bag that had been thrown away.
He slowly walked into the alley.
And the moment he saw what was happening—
The entire atmosphere went silent for a few seconds.
Then—
CRASH!
The young man swung his baseball bat and struck one of the attackers.
The man dropped to the ground.
Before the others could react…
The young man charged at them.
The sound of the bat echoed through the alley.
One strike after another.
Screams.
Blood.
And within moments, all of the attackers were lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
For the first time, his face became clearly visible.
It was Lina’s father.
His breathing was heavy.
He dropped the bat and immediately turned toward Miyu.
Miyu was sitting against the wall, trembling.
Her clothes were torn in several places, and her eyes were filled with fear.
He quickly removed his jacket and handed it to her.
“You’re safe now…”
His voice was calm and gentle.
A little later, he safely escorted Miyu back to her home.
The moment she arrived, Miyu hugged her parents and burst into tears.
That night, a police report was filed.
And a few days later…
All four men were sent to prison.
After hearing everything, the people gathered there looked at her father with admiration and gratitude.
“Thank you…
you’re a hero.”
After hearing those words, he quietly stepped away from everyone and stood alone for a while.
Then Miyu smiled and said to everyone,
“Actually…
that’s why I invited him here for a thank-you treat.
But he absolutely didn’t want to come.
He was way too shy.
No matter how many times I asked, he refused.”
The narrator then reveals that Lina’s father, whom we will now call by his real name—
Minato Ryuu.
Most people knew him by his nickname—
Ginko.
People respected him greatly.
But Ginko had one habit.
Either he gave the credit to someone else…
Or he acted as if he had never helped anyone at all.
Then Miyu smiled softly and said,
“He even refused the treat.
Actually…
he only came here because my dad asked him to.”
At that moment, Yui quietly walked over and stood beside him.
She was looking up at the sky.
But Ginko didn’t even realize she was standing so close.
A few moments later, Yui softly said,
“Thank you…
For saving my friend’s life.
Thank you for coming here…
And thank you for having dinner with all of us too.” ❤️
Ginko was about to say something when Yui suddenly turned toward him…
And gently kissed him.
For a few seconds, it felt as though time had stopped.
Ginko stood there
> “I had made your dad my most special friend…”
She smiled softly.
> “During free time at school…
or whenever we got a little spare time…
we would go meet each other.
Sometimes we would spend hours talking, and sometimes we would simply sit together in silence…
but before we realized it, those little meetings had become a part of our daily lives.”
The sparkle of old memories was clearly visible in her eyes.
> “Slowly, school came to an end…
and then we completed our graduation together as well.
During that time, our feelings for each other grew even deeper.
After some time…
we decided to hold each other’s hand forever.”
She smiled lovingly.
> “Life was never easy for us…
there were many hardships, and there were moments when it felt like everything was about to fall apart…
but we never let go of each other’s side.
Maybe that’s why…
even today, we’re still together…
and happy.”
> “My family…
and Ginko’s family too…
were always happy to see us together.”
Then she looked at Ran and said softly—
> “So, that was my little love story…”
With a gentle smile, she asked—
> “Now tell me, Ran…
what’s your story?” ❤️
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